Growth Archive

Smyth, Chicago’s three-MICHELIN-starred fine-dining beacon and 50 Best’s No. 1 Restaurant in North America, has appointed MICHELIN-starred Chef Conor Dalton as Head Chef following a rigorous global search for the world’s rising culinary talent.  Building upon a landmark decade of culinary excellence, Smyth is breaking ground on an ambitious new era. Head Chef Conor Dalton […]

Today, America’s Diner opened nominations for Denny’s Heroes: A Grand Slam Thank You, a nationwide search for stories of generosity, resilience, leadership, and service that have changed lives or made communities stronger. Every town has a hero who never stops showing up. The teacher who keeps snacks in her desk because she knows which kids […]

 East Coast Wings + Grill  (“ECW+G”), a full-service restaurant franchise known for its award-winning wings and made-to-order menu,is proud to announce that franchisees, Brent and Sherry Weaver, have been named 2026 Franchisees of the Year by the International Franchise Association (IFA). The prestigious award recognizes franchise owners who exemplify excellence in their businesses, communities, and […]

Building on the success of Daniel’s Miami, recently named the highest-ranked Florida steakhouse on the World’s Best 101 Steak Restaurants list, and Daniel’s, A Florida Steakhouse, which has earned Michelin Guide recognition, Gioia Hospitality Group founders Thomas Angelo and Kassidy Angelo have opened La Sponda, an elegant waterfront Italian restaurant inspired by their family’s heritage, […]

On October 6, 2026, Oak & Stone, the popular craft kitchen and self-pour tap wall restaurant concept, is set to open its newest location in The Villages’ Eastport Town Center, one of the community’s newest developments. The opening is the latest in a series of new location openings and marks Oak & Stone’s entry into […]

Two longtime guests of The Flying Biscuit Café have signed a franchise agreement to bring the all-day breakfast brand to Huntersville, N.C., in the greater Lake Norman area north of Charlotte. David Mumby and Jimmy Mumby signed for one café, with site selection underway. An address and opening date will be announced once a lease […]

The Flying Biscuit Café opens its downtown café at 327 W Summit Hill Dr SW in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, bringing the Atlanta-born breakfast and brunch brand into the city’s downtown core for the first time. The café is owned and operated by Chris Compton, who opened the brand’s first Tennessee location […]

TGI Fridays, the iconic global restaurant and bar brand, announced the signing of a landmark development agreement with Devolli Group, one of the Balkans’ leading diversified business groups, marking the brand’s first-ever expansion into Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. The agreement represents a significant milestone in TGI Fridays’ international growth strategy and reinforces the brand’s global momentum as it continues […]

The Flying Biscuit Café has signed a franchise agreement with Shreya Patel, who will bring the Atlanta-born breakfast and brunch brand to South Nashville. The agreement covers one café in the South Nashville Proper trade area, and site selection is underway. The address and opening date will be announced once a lease is signed. Patel […]

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, the award-winning Brooklyn-style pizzeria known for its coal-fired, brick-oven pizza, today announced the sale of its Bell Tower Fort Myers location to UNIV Hospitality of Fort Myers, LLC, led by principals Gary Patel and Anil Harkhani. In connection with the acquisition, UNIV Hospitality has entered into a franchise development agreement with Grimaldi’s to […]

The Flying Biscuit Café has signed a franchise agreement with franchisee Keisha Carter to bring the Atlanta-born all-day breakfast and brunch brand to McDonough, Ga., and the surrounding Henry County market. The site and opening date will be announced separately. Henry County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia. Its population rose from 203,922 […]

Chuy’s will offer dine-in food and drink specials at its restaurants nationwide on October 6 for National Taco Day. Guests who dress in a taco-inspired costume and post on social media using #ChuysTacoDay can receive a free entrée during the same visit. Guests can also add a crispy or soft ground beef taco for $1 […]

Cracker Barrel has named former Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan its first “Chief Pancake Officer” for a campaign calling for pancake blocks to be recognized as an official football statistic. The “Make Pancake Blocks Official” campaign plays on the football term for a block that knocks a defender to the ground. Beginning September 21, […]

Melting Pot is welcoming the season with Fondue Into Fall, a new limited-time menu featuring cozy fall flavors made for sharing around the fondue pot. To complement the seasonal menu, Melting Pot is launching The Ultimate Fonduegiving Feast Giveaway, inviting guests to celebrate someone they’re thankful for with the chance to win  a VIP dinner […]

TGI Fridays, where the world goes to celebrate, is teaming up with Family Feud, one of television’s most iconic game shows, to bring America’s favorite game directly to the dining table. Through November 9, Guests at participating TGI Fridays restaurants can play the official Family Feud 50th Anniversary game while enjoying their favorite menu items, […]

Solmar Hotels & Resorts, a pioneer of Baja California Sur hospitality since 1974, has appointed Mauricio Salicrup as Chief Executive Officer and Michel Albahari as Chief Operating Officer. The new structure strengthens the company’s corporate governance model and supports the growth strategy the group is building for the years ahead. Together the two executives bring […]

Hyatt Vacation Club, a vacation ownership brand with a collection of premium residential-style resorts, is elevating the family vacation experience and making it a lot tastier too, with the launch of Villa Bites by Hyatt Vacation Club, a new program that delivers nutritious, kid-friendly meals and snacks straight to travelers’ villas. In collaboration with Nurture […]

Dellshire Resort, the newest resort in Wisconsin Dells, is now open, introducing a new kind of immersive resort experience to the destination. The area’s first new build resort in more than two decades, Dellshire blends medieval fantasy-inspired storytelling with the refined comfort of an upscale Midwest retreat. Whether visiting as a family, couple, or group, Dellshire Resort offers a travel experience where themed environments, […]

Ford’s Garage – the prime burgers and craft beer restaurant inspired by the heritage of The Ford Motor Company, is looking to expand their reach into the Carolinas as part of their strategic national growth plan. The brand is actively seeking experienced franchise operators to help introduce Ford’s Garage to key markets in North and […]

L Catterton, the largest global consumer-focused investment firm, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to invest in Nandhana Foods, a leading restaurant group specializing in South Indian cuisine. The investment will support Nandhana Foods’ next phase of growth and enable the group to achieve greater scale by leveraging L Catterton’s industry expertise […]

US Foods Holding Corp., one of America’s largest foodservice distributors, announced the launch of Fall 2026 Scoop, a collection of 14 US Foods Exclusive Brands products inspired by the time-honored standards of Italian cooking. These new products feature authentic ingredients in labor-saving formats with flexible applications, designed to help operators bring innovative, Italian-inspired flavors to […]

The World Food Championships announced a new partnership with Sysco, the global leader in selling, marketing, and distributing food and related products to customers who prepare meals away from home. Sysco will join WFC2026 as an Official Platform Partner, bringing together its extensive foodservice network, culinary expertise, and portfolio of leading brands for an expanded […]

As demand for Hispanic cuisine continues to grow, La Vaquita, the award-winning Hispanic cheese brand, is expanding its foodservice business nationally. The move brings La Vaquita’s authentic cheeses to operators throughout the United States to meet consumers’ demand for traditional Hispanic ingredients. La Vaquita’s foodservice portfolio helps restaurants bring Hispanic flavor to a wide range of […]

Baldor Specialty Foods, a specialty food distributor serving more than 16,000 customers along the East Coast, announced its expansion into North Carolina with an initial focus on the Triangle, Triad, and Charlotte metro areas. Restaurants, hotels, retailers, universities, and other foodservice operators throughout these regions will gain access to Baldor’s curated selection of more than […]

US Foods Holding Corp., one of America’s largest foodservice distributors, today announced the launch of Fall 2025 Scoop, the company’s latest line-up of new, Exclusive Brands products designed to help operators elevate profitability and streamline operations. Today, operators across the industry are facing an ongoing “profitability paradox,” the challenge of expanding menus with profit-boosting, innovative […]